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‘Worried’ Macron to make TV broadcast to France

French President Emmanuel Macron is to make another live TV appearance to the nation amid concerns that Covid cases are once again rising across Europe.

Published: 5 November 2021 18:56 CET

Emmanuel Macron will make another TV broadcast.

Emmanuel Macron will make another TV broadcast. Photo: Christophe Archambault/AFP

The Elysée announced on Friday that Macron would be making a live TV appearance on Tuesday, November 9th, at 8pm, after insiders had told French media that he was “very worried about the health situation in Europe”.

The president’s TV addresses of 2020 usually heralded the beginning of a new lockdown, although Macron is not expected to announce strict new restrictions this time.

Case numbers have been rising across Europe and although France’s increase is small so far, both case numbers and hospital occupancy levels have shown a sustained rise for several weeks.

The below chart from Le Parisien journalist Nicolas Berrod shows the evolution in the incidence rate, or cases per 100,000 people.

Le taux d'incidence s'élève ce soir à 61,9 (72,3 avec l'estimation en appliquant la correction du jour férié*). #Covid19

1/4 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/IzpstkB4US

— Nicolas Berrod (@nicolasberrod) November 5, 2021

Case numbers stand at an average of just over 5,000 new cases per day and a previous relaxation of mask rules in primary schools has been reversed in many areas.

It is thought Macron’s speech could concern booster shots for the Covid vaccine. At present booster are only open to certain groups of vulnerable patients and are voluntary; the government could extend the booster shot programme to everyone and could also link the third dose to the health pass, making it necessary to access venues like bars and cafés.

On Friday health pass legislation was extended until July 2022, after MPs overturned efforts by the Senate to limit the extension.

The Local will be reporting live on Macron’s speech on Tuesday.

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French PM says new government names will be revealed 'before Sunday'

Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s office said on Thursday that he would “go to the Elysée to propose to the president a government that is ready to serve France”.

After a meeting earlier on Thursday afternoon with the heads of political parties, Barner then travelled to the Elysée Palace on Thursday evening to meet president Emmanuel Macron.

Their meeting lasted for just under an hour and at the end journalists saw Macron showing Barnier out saying Merci beaucoup, à demain (thanks very much, see you tomorrow).

After the meeting, Barnier’s office said he had had a “constructive exchange” with the president and that the full list of names of the new ministers will be made public “before Sunday, after the usual checks have been made”.

French media reported that the full list of 38 names, of which 16 will be full minsters, includes seven ministers from Macron’s centrist group, two from fellow centrists MoDem and three from Barnier’s own party, the right-wing Les Républicains.

Listen to John Lichfield discussing the challenges that Barnier faces in the latest episode of the Talking France podcast – download here or listen on the link below

Barnier’s statement said that “after two weeks of intensive consultations with the different political groups” he has found the architecture of his new government, adding that his priorities would be to;

Improve the standard of living for the French and the workings of public services, especially schools and healthcare
Guarantee security, control immigration and improve integration
Encourage businesses and agriculture and build upon the economic attractiveness of France
Get public finances under control and reduce debt

France has been in a state of limbo ever since parliamentary elections in July produced a deadlock with no group coming close to winning enough seats for a majority.

A caretaker government remained in place over the summer while president Emmanuel Macron declared an ‘Olympics truce’.

He finally appointed the right-wing former minister and ex-Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on September 5th.

Barnier has spent the last two weeks in intense negotiations in his attempt to form a government that won’t immediately be brought down through a motion of no-confidence in parliament.

Numerous left-wing politicians are reported to have refused to serve in his government while several high-profile Macronists have also ruled themselves out, including long-serving finance minister Bruno Le Maire who last week announced that he was quitting politics.

The reported make up of the new government does not reflect the election result – in which the leftist Nouveau Front Populaire coalition came first, followed by Macron’s centrists with the far-right Rassemblement National in third – but Barnier’s hope is that enough MPs will support it to avoid an immediate motion de censure (vote of no confidence).

The government’s first task will be to prepare the 2025 budget, which is already a week late. France’s soaring budget deficit and threat of a downgrade from ratings agencies mean that it will be a tricky task with Barnier, who has prepared the ground for tax hikes by warning that the situation is ‘very serious’.

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